Veneciafrenia (2021) Review

In the midst of the devastation of the pandemic, every now and then we would find a little glimmer of hope. A silver lining that would brighten our day and seemed to say, ‘it’s not all bad’. Devoid of tourists, the canals of Venice ran clear once more. Dolphins were seen playfully exploring the crystal waters and the locals could enjoy a casual stroll in their picturesque locale without having to battle through crowds of people.

On reflection, you can’t really blame the people of Venice for their aversion to tourists. Campaigners have long pushed for a ban on cruise ships – a blight on the scenic horizon and a risk to the sinking city. Yet with its unique beauty and romanticised history, Venezia will always have an enticing draw to the outside world.

From director Álex de la Iglesia, Veneciafrenia follows a group of Spanish tourists as they visit the Italian city for a bachelorette party. Approaching the dock the friends are met by angry protesters, sick of the constant stream of tourists pouring into their home city.
Unperturbed and excited for the debaucherous adventure before them, they eagerly enter a water bus to their destination.

Their second warning comes in the form of a jauntily clad local, dressed as a traditional court Jester who bestows the group with an exclusive invitation to a mysterious performance. His increasingly bizarre and inappropriate behaviour sees him unceremoniously ejected from the taxi and his ominous glare towards the retreating boat hints at the carnage to come.

Famed for its Venetian masks and elaborate masquerade balls, the gang plan a night of extravagant excess – renting period costumes to explore the city in style. Seemingly oblivious to their loud and obnoxious behaviour, they throw caution to the wind in search of adventure but end up finding more than they bargained for.

Veneciafrenia is a really fun and theatrical slasher with plenty of bloodshed to keep the thirsty satiated. The features opening credits deserve a mention – a colourful graphic segment that sets the tone for the performance to come.

Managing to feel both stylish and silly, the feature has an intriguingly disturbing antagonist and employs some beautiful costume design. Veneciafrenia perfectly captures the beautiful allure of the historic city with enough cautionary narrative to have the aspiring traveller reflecting on their behaviour. The film does lose its way slightly as it draws to its conclusion but is fun enough to be forgiven.

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